“He Leads Us”

The moment has arrived when we must move ahead; may God be with us always wherever we are led. He’ll hold our hands and guide us and teach us how to cope with life’s little problems and lift our heads in hope. The Lord stands beside us and helps us to be strong; there’s nothing we can’t conquer as long as He’s along. So as we face tomorrow and in God do abide, there’s promise for the future for He is by our side. ~ Lea Kemp Valedictorian of her Graduating class Mt. Vernon, AR

668 Wakemans Grove Road, Edinburg, VA 22824 E-mail: wgcob@shentel.net 540-984-8383

GRADUATES: Lauran Baker — Central High School Trent Cook — Central High School Grace Eberly — Central High School Makayla Lassiter — Central High School Rachel Ross — Valley Baptist Christian School We extend our love and best wishes to each of these high school graduates as they enter the next season of their lives. May God bless you and guide you through your joys and challenges!

June 5 through August 28

Sunday School – 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship –10:30 a.m.

NEWS FROM THE GROVE

June, July, August 2016

Mark Bowyer, Pastor

On Sunday, June 5 our congregation will honor our High School graduates for this season. There will be a special recogni-tion during worship and a covered-dish luncheon will be held at 11:30 am. Note the summer schedule: Sun-day School at 9:30 and Worship at 10:30. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Bring a covered-dish and celebrate this spe-cial time for our graduates.

Congratulations, Graduates!!!

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THANK YOU To My Church Family and Family Life Committee: Thank you for the flowers and balloon. I also want to thank you for the cards, calls, flowers and visits. All were greatly appreciated. Love in Christ, Leona Dirting

SUMMER MUSIC The Summer Special Music Schedule is posted on the bulletin board. If you would like to share special music during June, July or August, please sign the sheet on the board. We are blessed with many talented folks in our congregation—now is the time to share that ability with every-one!! To God be the glory, great things He hath done. Sign-up today!!

CHILDREN’S CHURCH

Children’s Church began in September 2007. On the first and third Sunday, September through May, children are able to attend Children’s Church during the last 30 - 40 minutes of morning worship. It has been a very successful program and many children have enjoyed this ministry. The aver-age attendance for Children’s Church this past year was about 20. During the months of June, July and August, we will not have Children’s Church so our leaders and helpers may take a well-deserved break and be refreshed come September. Our thanks to those who have committed themselves to this ministry, to our children and especially to Sherry Arey for coordinating the program this year.

HELP WANTED

The VBS committee is looking for a

few good men and women to

volunteer to serve in all ways through the week of Bible school –

July 10-15!

We need group leaders, refresh-ment coordinators and dinner plan-ners and cooks just to name a few!

Pay is given by way of smiles and hugs!

Please contact one of the members of the committee if you are

available and willing!!

Carey mullins

Laryn ritenour

Mandy tharp

Kristi zirkle

From the Witness Commission

Sunday, July 31, 2016 3:00 PM

Corn Hole Games Free will offering to benefit the

Brethren Woods Scholarship Fund.

Please sign up on the bulletin board if you are interested in playing. Even if you don’t play, just come for the fellowship and fun! Please bring a snack to share and hot dogs

and drinks will be provided.

July 1 Nicholas Foltz 1 McKenna Rimel 1 John Hunsaker 2 Gary Kalwaytis 3 Kevin Minnick 3 Jean Kohne 5 Jane Hottle 6 Savannah McCaffrey 7 Gabe Dodd 7 Howard Miller 8 Tiffany Smith 9 Keith Smith 10 Diane Burner 10 Jerry Funkhouser 10 Candace Frenchak 11 Lauran Baker 12 Lisa Hoffman 14 Lynda Burner 14 Stuart Wakeman 17 Marty Burner 19 June Thompson 19 Jean Wilkins 19 Rebecca Daugharty 19 Harold Ebersole 20 Gary Markley 23 Cheryl Wakeman 23 Ruth Crowe 24 Grace Cook 24 Aaron Bowyer 25 Amy Wakeman-Hill 25 Haleigh Myrtle 25 Madison Marston 26 Tucker Markley

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June 2 Viola Burner 2 Pearl Pence 2 Morgan Marston 3 Emily Neff 4 Meredith Bauserman 7 Lisa Roberts 8 Jay L. Fix 9 Laura Funkhouser 12 June Dirting 13 William Bly 14 Keith Click 14 Daniel Mace 14 Luke Smith 15 Kymberly Fix 15 Ronnie Wilkins 16 Fred Garber 18 Kathy Shipp 18 Bernidine Click 20 Marvene Gochenour 22 Audry Keeler 23 Sheila Trelawny 23 Anna Knicely 23 Kelley Funkhouser 24 Bonnie Barrick 24 Reagan Bowman 25 Ron Gisewhite 27 Donna Hopkins 30 Phil Burner Please contact Gloria Markley in the church office if you have additions or corrections to the birthday or anniversary list. Thank you for your assis-tance.

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

June Anniversaries 2 Mr. & Mrs. Steve Payne 2 Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Bly 12 Mr. & Mrs. Frank Conti 12 Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Funkhouser 15 Mr. & Mrs. Bill Lam 16 Mr. & Mrs. John Shrum 19 Mr. & Mrs. Jamie Tharp 20 Mr. & Mrs. Keith Zirkle 21 Mr. & Mrs. Terry Foltz 22 Mr. & Mrs. Mike Marston 24 Mr. & Mrs. Richard Hottle 25 Mr. & Mrs. Adam Zirkle 29 Mr. & Mrs. Keith Click July Anniversaries 1 Mr. & Mrs. Rick Looman 6 Mr. & Mrs. P.J. Wakeman 12 Mr. & Mrs. Keith Rocco 15 Mr. & Mrs. Bart Hoffman 23 Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Bauserman 25 Mr. & Mrs. Donald Hopkins 30 Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Zirkle

August Birthdays

Aug. 1 Crystal Hollar 1 Scott Bowers 2 Dottie Couch 3 Denise Conti 3 John Dove 3 Pamela Dodd 4 Bryan Wakeman 6 Sierra Sager 8 Kevin Zirkle 8 Maveric Good 9 Noah Crowder 10 Vicki Minnick 10 John Shrum 12 Bradley Tusing 12 Keeyarra Dodson 13 Briana Fix 13 Chuck Shipp 14 Adam Dove 18 Ella Wakeman 20 Kelsey Tharp 22 Katelyn Wilkins 22 Jennifer Carroll 23 Cathy Mansfield 24 Eleanor Cook 25 Aimee Eisensmith 25 Charlie MacLeod 26 Sandy Ross 28 Galen Kohne 29 Rick Looman 29 Eddie Sherman 29 Rachel Ross 30 Denise Click 30 Julianna McRae 31 Travis Hoffman

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August Anniversaries

2 Mr. & Mrs. George Daugharty Sr. 4 Rev. & Mrs. Gene Knicely 9 Mr. & Mrs. Joshua King 18 Mr. & Mrs. Gabe Dodd 25 Mr. & Mrs. Ron Gisewhite 29 Mr. & Mrs. Gamaliel Cook 30 Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Wakeman 30 Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Eberly

COOKBOOKS

Have you been looking for a recipe with chicken or for a good homemade bread rec-ipe to go along with dinner and then finish up with a yummy dessert or just something different to

make? Or a special salad for that reunion or pic-nic!

Then, look no more! We still have cook-books for sale. If you need a graduation gift, birthday gift for your father or father-in-law or friend or co-worker, give them a cookbook. They make an excellent gift for a couple just starting out and only $8.00.

There are 502 recipes for you to choose from in the cookbook. This is the fourth cook-book the church has done. If you would like to purchase a cookbook, please contact Sharon Foltz.

FROM PASTOR MARK "In Spirit and in Truth" Part 2

From the April article: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24 The question remains, how do we worship in Spirit and in truth while honoring our Brethren heritage? Each Christian tradition (Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Brethren, etc.) has its roots in a genuine seeking of God. The different directions they have taken represent at least in part the beauty and diversity of God Himself and His creation. Each contributes something valuable and worth celebrating. Continuing: The styles of these traditions can be loosely organized as "high church" (a written plan or liturgy to fol-low, classical styled music, more ornate worship space with painted or sculpted symbols and stories) and "low church" (more free-form worship, plainer worship spaces, more varied music styles). Basically, the high church model (Catholic, Lutheran, etc.) reflects Christian worship style before the Reformation (begun 1517) while low church (Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, etc.) reflects styles that came out of the Reformation (the departure by Martin Luther and others from Catholic theology which had become corrupt and legalistic). The reformed churches maintained much of the high church model at first, but later more radical movements (such as the Mennonites and Brethren) stripped away many of the trappings of high church worship in favor of sim-plicity of style. It is worth noting that the Brethren (formed in 1708) were departing from Reformed churches as well as Catholic because they all had become corrupt and legalistic by that time! The people of God seem always to be leaving true worship behind and falling into a dry tradition which hardens into legalism ('we've always done it that way'). That is why finding true worship is so important! Reform movements are always necessary in order to refresh and renew the worship of the church. But the answer does not lie in changing everything. When our Catholic friends offer genuine worship in their liturgy based on real love for Jesus, it is accepted and rewarded just as much as the loud and boisterous worship of our Pentecostal friends when they worship out of love and awe and wonder. As Jesus indicates in the above scripture, the key to genuine worship is really not about style at all, but genuine love. This love for God, Jesus says, is reflected in our love for one another. So the search for genuine worship must begin there. The worshippers in one tradition must not criticize (judge) the worshippers in another. Likewise, they must not smugly assume they are worshipping in a more genuine manner. I have heard Brethren say that com-munion in a Lutheran church "...can't mean as much as Love Feast," because they do it too often. I have heard Lutherans wonder how Brethren can get through a year with only two opportunities to take communion. In these statements, neither understands the other, nor should judge the other. What the different traditions bring is a matter of emphasis. Our liturgical friends emphasize the awe and majesty of God in their lovely buildings and poetic words. Silence is valued as an expression of reverence. Our Pentecostal friends emphasize the power of God (and a faith in the power of prayer we could all learn from!). Boisterous praise is valued as an expression of His victorious power. We as Brethren stand somewhere in between. Perhaps our greatest emphasis in worship as Brethren is each other. We value fellowship and mutual-ity, and so observe communion in a very communal way, through the basin and the towel. Very Continued on page 6

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Pastor Mark’s article continued from page 5: few other denominations practice this. But the moment we assume we're doing it "right" and they "wrong," we cease to be true worshippers at that moment. For some, our emphasis on 'one another' can be a distraction from focusing on Jesus in communion. The solitude of individual communion helps them feel more in touch with Him. For others, Love Feast allows them to see Jesus in the faces of others, thus strengthening the experience. But we are not to judge either way. Our early Brethren forbearers liked to worship with benches in an "L" or "U" shape, so that the beam-ing faces or 'countenances' of others could enhance their own worship. Pews all facing front came later as peo-ple from non-brethren churches joined us and brought their influence. There have been many other changes as well, such as the addition of instrumental music (early Brethren shunned this out of an emphasis on simplic-ity). We have begun to look more like some of our other Christian neighbors, and they, in turn, more like us and one another. But surely in the persist of worshiping in Spirit and in truth, this is not a bad trend. Will not a common pursuit of truth always bring people together rather than separate them further? The question remains, how do we worship in Spirit and in truth while honoring our Brethren heritage? By worshiping out of our love for God and for others- inviting others to enjoy the fine traditions we have in-herited- but never using those traditions to make ourselves "superior" worshippers, and by never defending those traditions at the expense of our love and welcome of others. Next time: "The Worship Wars: Guitars, Drums and Organs" I welcome and appreciate feedback on these articles. Call or stop by to chat anytime! God bless, Pastor Mark

CBYF

The CBYF are looking at busy summers. Most of the kids are going to have summer jobs. Please keep them in your prayers as several of them enter the working world for the first time. That creates issues for the advi-sors with scheduling events because the kids are working and have many things to occupy their limited free time. It’s hard enough for us to keep up with our schedules but add in 8-10 more kids and we will need your prayers, too! We are looking into some fun outings for the summer like camping and amusement parks, as well as some service projects that can be done evenings and weekends. If anyone in the church has or knows of something that needs to be done, please let one of us know!! We will be continuing our weekly dinner and Bible Study on Wednesday evenings, but we will be changing these to 6:00-7:30. This will give us a little more time to relax around dinner and enjoy our fellowship time. Thank you as always for your support of our youth!! Adam and Kristi Zirkle, Advisors

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The 2015 Shenandoah District Conference charged the District Leadership Team (DLT) with the responsibility of drafting a framework for dealing with congregations in disagreement with Annual Conference or District Conference decisions. In this letter, DLT Chair Jonathan Prater summarizes the process the Team has used and up-dates the progress it has made. This framework document, approved by the DLT on May 10, will be presented to the 2016 District Conference in November.

THE LETTER:

May 31, 2016

Brothers and Sisters, Greetings in the name of Jesus. On behalf of the District Leadership Team (DLT) I hope this letter finds you well, and serving the Kingdom of God faithfully. Last November the District Confer-ence delegate body passed a working document entitled “Shenandoah District Resolution on Mar-riage.” The delegate body then tasked the DLT with using this document as a framework for dealing with congregations in disagreement with Annual or District Conference decisions. Following this ac-tion, the DLT met in December 2-15 and identified areas of the document that stepped beyond legal parameters and current Church of the Brethren polity. As a result of this discussion, the DLT tasked a team to examine this document and bring proposed changes back to the DLT for approval. The revised document will then be presented to the 2016 Shenandoah District Conference for action. This team was comprised of myself, David Miller, Janet Elsea, George Bowers, and Phil Stone, Jr. This team worked for three months, vetting this document and examining current polity, denomina-tional precedent, and legal parameter. The intent of this team was not to change the will of District Conference, but to assure that this document was acceptable to use as our guiding framework. One of the first concerns we identified as a team was this, this document contained two dis-tinctly different sections. The first section was a framework for dealing with congregations out of harmony with Conference decisions. The second section was a resolution on marriage. Our first course of action was the division of the document into two papers. The first of these documents en-titled “A Framework for Dealing with Congregations in Disagreement with Annual or District Confer-ence Decisions.” This is available if you would like to read it. This document was approved by the DLT in open session on May 10, 2016, and is ready for presentation at District Conference. This pa-per will require a 2/3 majority vote. In the following months you will have opportunity to discuss the paper, “A Framework for Dealing with Congregations in Disagreement with Annual or District Conference Decisions.” Currently John Jantzi, David Miller, and I are envisioning a District Conference Delegate Briefing prior to District Conference. I invite you to keep an eye and an ear open for details about such an event. Also, we have several open DLT meetings: September 1 at New Hope and October 6 at Lebanon, to which you are invited. These meetings will have an open forum at the end that would be a great place to come and ask questions or present concerns. Finally, I am available to speak to this paper in other settings. Feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns you may have. Blessings over each of you, your families, ministries and congregations. Shalom, Jonathan Prater District Leadership Team Chair

Junior High Notes The Junior Highs participated in All Church Cleanup. We took on the kitchen, wiped down the cabinets, cleaned behind the stove, washed windows in the Fellowship hall and en-joyed a lunch made by Ms. Sharon Foltz. We had a lot of fun and glad to help get the church spit spot! Just this past weekend we went camp-ing at Rick and Cathy Looman’s. We had nine Junior Highs participate and we enjoyed playing games, swimming in the cold river, tubing, eating and devotions. Pastor Mark also invited Alex Hopkins with Young Life to speak with our group. We all, advisors in-cluded, had a great time, we even had some par-ents and grandparents come and spend Saturday evening with us. Thank you to all the parents that helped out with supplies and allowing your kids to spend the weekend with us. Todd Crowder’s son, Jed, will be getting married on June 25, and he has asked if the Junior Highs would be willing to serve the rehearsal din-ner, he will give a donation for their involvement. Also if you or anyone you know needs some ser-vice jobs done around your house, please let us know. We all have a busy summer coming and hope to do some activities throughout the next few months. Jimmy and Missy Hollar Daniel and Amber Foltz Advisors

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CLEAN-UP BREAKFAST The Stewards Commission will be serving breakfast to everyone that helped in any way with the church clean-up on Sunday morning, June 12, beginning at 8:00 AM. Menu will be quiche, sau-sage gravy w/biscuits, waffles, pancakes, fruit, juice, coffee, water. Everyone who participated with the church clean-up, including their spouses, is encouraged to come and enjoy the reward of the fruits of your labor of helping to keep God’s house in a respectful condition.

WANT AN ICONIC CHURCH ORGAN?

The Stewards Commission will be accepting sealed bids through the end of June for the organ that was removed from the sanctuary. It is a 1955 Hammond organ, Model C3, Serial Number 56104. It includes the bench, speaker cabinets, speakers that were custom mounted above the doors that lead into the baptistery and will have to be re-moved, wiring and the chime/bells accessory. Win-ning bidder is responsible for hauling the unit. If no one is interested in the organ, the Stewards Commission will have no choice but to haul the organ to the landfill.

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Wednesday Piecemakers

The quilter group sent a queen size quilt to the Disaster Auction, others quilts included a queen & laptop (both quilted by two of our members) and four tied laptops. Much thanks to Gary Shipe for making sure our quilts got to the auction. All of these were displayed for viewing two Sundays outside the Sanctuary. We also gave a laptop to a 92 year old for her birthday. Some of our members cleaned the quilting area to participated in church clean-up day. The Curse of Clutter… Sure looks nice for now!

INVITATION ALL QUILTERS

CARRY-IN LUNCH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22nd

A time to celebrate members that had birthdays (January thru June of this year)

Hard Work! Wonderful Results!

The 24th annual Shenandoah District Ministries Auction is now history, and preliminary numbers point to another great success! The two-day income at the fairgrounds (May 20 and 21) totaled $175,162.99. Included in that total are the cattle auction, which brought in $15,889.50; the other auctions, which combined for $92,038.50; and the income from such enterprises as food sales, plant sales, Sow & Grow, baked goods, etc. These numbers do not include money received at the District Office (golf fees, oyster sales, etc.) prior to the auction. And there are always late-arriving bills to be paid and some additional income. On Friday evening, 1,124 people dined on 75 gallons of oysters plus country ham and chicken - up from 1,050 last year. On Saturday morning, 465 breakfasts were served (265 omelets and 200 pancake breakfasts); last year, 445 people had breakfast at the auction. And at lunch on Saturday, 226 plate lunches were served, com-pared to 170 last year. Add to that all of the a la carte options, the ice cream, the donuts, the apple dumplings, etc., and it's a fair guess that no one left hungry. During Saturday's children's activities, 409 school kits and 100 health kits were assembled for Church World Service. Friday's golf tournament at Heritage Oaks enjoyed perfect weather. Congratulations to the championship team of Wes Allred, Doug Painter, Frank Thacker and Larry Wittig. Thanks to all who volunteered to make the auction a reality and to those who came to eat, bid, buy and enjoy what has become an annual reunion in support of Brethren Disaster Ministries. And next year will be a major anniversary - the 25-year milestone! Plan now to take part on May 19 and 20, 2017.

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LIBRARY NEWS In just a few days school will be out for the summer and about 24 hours later, the kids will be saying, “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do!” Bring them to our church library and check out all the books, DVDs, and tapes that are available. There is something for kids of all ages—fiction, nonfiction, study and resource books on many topics. Sunday School teachers—consider bringing your class to the library for an introductory tour. We would be glad to meet with you any Sunday and help with this. Keep Reading! Librarians, Pam McCubbin Barbara Garber

The following campers will be attending Brethren Woods this summer. Please pray for their safety and that they will be open to the Word of God: 2016 CAMPERS Morgan Hollar Wk 6 Jul 24-29 Pioneer Adventure Hunter Wakeman Wk 3 Jun 26-Jul 1 Pioneer Adventure Jasmine Wakeman Wk 3 Jun 26-Jul 1 Pioneer Adventure Jennifer Carroll Wk 6 Jul 24-29 Junior Camp Lisa Carroll Wk 6 Jul 24-29 Pioneer Adventure William Eberly Wk 2 Jun 19-24 Junior Camp Emma Eberly Wk 6 Jul 24-29 Pioneer Adventure Tucker Markley Wk 2 Jun 19-24 Junior Camp Haley Tharp Wk 2 Jun 19-24 Junior Camp Shane Ritenour Wk 3 Jun 26-Jul 1 Mini Camp Miah Bowman Wk 2 Jun 19-24 Junior Camp Evan Bowers Wk 2 June 20-23 Day Camp Connor Wakeman Wk 1 June 12-17 Junior High Camp Georgia Wakeman Wk 2 Jun 19-24 Junior Camp Austin Wakeman Wk 2 Jun 19-24 Trailblazers

~ Pastor Mark will be Camp Dean the week of June 19-24.

Wakemans Grove Church of the Brethren 668 Wakemans Grove Road Edinburg, VA 22824